Many people take much pride in numerous things some being: their job, family, political views, even as much as in their favorite sport. People make mistakes big and small, but it is how one deals with the situation and the mistake, that shows the morality in a person, and shows who he or she may be. “The only crime is pride,” Sophocles, is still held to be true; for instance, pride itself can cloud a persons’ mind and caused him or her to commit the crimes he or she did. Pride is thought to be a good thing but in many cases it is proven otherwise. Even though there is some truth in “the only crime is pride” the crimes/mistakes caused by pride are not forgivable, and “yielding” does not help at all; pride is not just to prove oneself right, but also not to look “weak” in the eyes of others.
Pride does not only cloud ones judgement, but it also can cause worse situations such as death or unnecessary punishment. In the play, The Crucible, a lot is caused because of a characters pride; for instance, when all was coming to place: Abigail running away, no one willing to confess to witchcraft, and three well known people in line to be hung, Danforth would not postpone nor completely stop the hangings of Proctor, Rebecca, Goody Nurse because if he did the other twelve hangings that were for the same reason would not be “just.” Danforth’s “pride” was not only to be “just,” but to not look like a weakling in front of the town’s people. Danforth did not “yield” because he did not want to but because if he did it would not seem like the “right” thing to do. Pride overpowered Danforth’s judgement and made him arrogant all he wanted to do was to seem fair and please the townspeople; which caused the death of innocent people and the freedom of t...
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...er to be displayed in “shame.” Because for a man his name is something to be prideful for and in actuality it is to any man, for he keeps his name his whole like, unlike the women, and could not leave his family especially his boy with the same of having their fathers name on display in front of the church. So instead ripped the paper and prepared for his death sentence Proctors pride in the beginning caused problems and made mistakes that could have been avoided, but his pride for his name can be seen as a good thing.
Pride is a powerful thing. In some cases it can be seen as a good or bad thing. If the person yields their wrong doing does not necessarily make his or her pride “the only crime,” but the outcome of it as well. Society sees goodness of other by his or her actions, but can be blinded by what others tell them and believing them knowing what they know.
Pride in itself, can be seen as a positive attribute, however, when it is expressed as arrogance it becomes a fatal flaw that leads to one’s downfall. In the play The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, John Proctor allows his excessive pride to get in the way of his decisions. John Proctor would rather die honest than live a lie. In order not to tarnish his good name, John makes the corrupt decision of being hanged. Although this act can be seen as noble, it is ultimately foolish because he allows his excessive pride to put him to death. John's corrupt decision to be hanged to save his family’s name and protect his wife was the result of excessive pride.
One example of how John Proctor had too much pride is his refusal to admit to the scandalous adultery crime, his admittance to this could have ended the numerous deaths and trails that occurred in the town. A quote that supports this thought is: “God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat! But it is a whore’s
Each character has a certain failing that they represent in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, more than anyone else. For Thomas Putnam his failing is how he would do anything to get vengeance on Francis Nurse. John Proctor failing is dishonesty to protect which undoubtedly cause his own down fall. Reverend Parris whose materialistic ways for money will end up with him having nothing. Putnam’s vengeance, Proctor’s dishonesty to protect, and Parris’ materialism all show a failing that will have consequences for someone in Salem.
During act 4 Proctor feels ashamed of himself for having sign a paper of him confessing to witchcraft but danforth want to nail that confesion to the church doors and Proctor to ashamed with himself does not give back the confession and says “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name, God knows how black my sins are! It is enough.”(the crucible act 4 Arthur-miller) here shows that proctor trying to keep his name is too ashamed to have it posted for all to see then he says “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name!” showing that he wants some dignity when this is
In the story, “The Crucible”, John Proctor is thought to be a sinful person because he does not know all of the commandments and sometimes plows on Sundays. The author does not reveal this to the readers directly but tells them what others have been saying about him. Readers can also learn that Proctor is quite prideful. His main goal was to save Elizabeth from hanging, but when Danforth gave him a deal that would save Elizabeth he did not take it. Proctor was too proud to take the deal. Also when Proctor confessed to seeing the devil, his pride got in the way from saving his life. He did not want his name to be slandered.
Pride is a very relevant issue in almost everyone's lives. Only when a person is forced to face his pride can he begin to overcome it. Through the similar themes of her short stories, Flannery O'Connor attempts to make her characters realize their pride and overcome it.
In every conflict there always seems to be at least one person to blame. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, many problems arise that deal with live and death. Many innocent people in this play were hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. Of course, there are many people that may be blamed. In The Crucible, one may find Abigail Williams, The Putnams, and Mary Warren to blame. Abigail was manipulative, The Putnams were very jealous, and Mary Warren was weak-willed.
When it comes to pride, when do we know that we have too much? A perfect example of having too much pride lies in the Greek tragedy, Antigone. In my opinion, it is the perfect example because the main character, Creon, is dealing with all the things that are happening because of Antigone’s decision to go against his law and many people are telling him that he is wrong, but he is too confident in his own choice that nothing bad will happen.
A crucible refers to a harsh test, and in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, each person is challenged in a severe test of his or her character or morals. Many more people fail than pass, but three notable characters stand out. Reverend John Hale, Elizabeth Proctor, and John Proctor all significantly change over the course of the play.
A lady on trial bursts out sobbing admitting to a crime; a Christian reveals his deepest sins to an attentive preacher; a cheating husband affirms his wife’s suspicions. Why are these people compelled to confess? It is because people feel a potent emotion, an emotion so formidable that it overshadows the possibility of being condemned. This powerful feeling that has forced man to bow is guilt. Confessions are products of guilt because the need to be free from the internal struggle inside one’s self is human nature. This central theme is exemplified by The Crucible by Arthur Miller and The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Both works of literature display characters who believe they have committed wrongdoings,
Proctor poses at the presumtuous yet moral-sensible tragic hero nonetheless encompasses a tragic flaw which risks everything he has fought and worked for. John cheats on Elizabeth, yet, despite acquiring an exceptional reputation, refuses to forgive himself and instead begs for repentance. John having to “tiptoe” into his own home has him confined within the ideals of Elizabeth, at the same time trying to please her. His desolation then leads him to being caged by guilt and a constant quest to regain self-image. John’s perpetual means of excessive pride is shown through his constant arguments with Reverend Parris and Mr. Putnam. A compelling man he is, John’s impulse is to defend his beliefs and nothing else. Ultimately sacrficing his life
Webster defines pride as a “proud behavior or treatment; insolence; arrogance; distain” (Webster’s, 1939). Being proud is acceptable, even good, to a certain extent. Having pride in the way you look, your handwriting, or something you take seriously. People take pride in the little things that are personal and loved individually. Being a little prideful can lead to confidence; however people often mistake arrogance (an exaggerated pride) for confidence. Prideful people seek to prove their superiority in every aspect of their lives Roth provides the reader with a vivid illustration of this exaggerated pride. The initiates in her novel are supplied with multiple opportunities to st...
Reputation in this play is what drives people to act in certain ways. Miller uses this theme in such a way that is seems to control certain characters like Danforth, Parris and Abigail thus portraying them in a negative and insincere light. They go to lengths to never have no contradict themselves or appear to be mendacious and deceitful whereas other characters such as John Proctor, Sarah Good and Giles, are driven by the will to protect their integrity. The protection of either integrity or reputation is what differ...
vanity, pride, and self - knowledge intervenes in the development of the virtue of the characters,
In 1297AD, pride was described as “A consciousness or feeling of what is befitting or due to oneself or one's position, which prevents a person from doing what he considers to be beneath him or unworthy of him; esp. as a good quality, legitimate, ‘honest’, or ‘proper pride’, self-respect; also as a mistaken or misapplied feeling, ‘false pride’” (OED 4). This type of pride is personal pride and the image a person must maintain to keep it. A person cannot allow them self to act in such a way that would be demeaning. An example of this would be a drill sergeant getting down with his recruits and performing the same demeaning drills as they are. The sergeant’s years of hard work and service would not be taken seriously if he were to lower himself to the level of their recruits therefore lowering his sense of pride.